In audio engineering is it truly necessary to go to a college to get your degree?

[frannie t]

I have been reading a lot on the internet and from what I have read it seems like people who go to a school that last about half a year to a year that only focuses on audio engineering is the best way to go, like people from a standard four year college usually lack real life studio knowledge and some end up going to one of these six month classes just to get experiecne so they are hireable.
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Also, I have been thinking about going to a thing called Recording Connections in stead of a college. Where I would be an apprentice to a professional engineer untill I got my certificate. And afterwards they would even help me get a starting job in the industry. To me it sounds good, any opinions or info that may help me in either question? Please and thanks.